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Mazda 5 vs Kia Rondo

806 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 2:38 PM

You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum. Your Host is Karens

What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA5, Kia Rondo, Car Comparisons, Car Buying, Wagon


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#299 of 806
Re: '08 Rondo EX 5-seater, CDN [conwelpic] by coolmazda5
Feb 08, 2008 (4:40 pm)
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Replying to: conwelpic (Feb 08, 2008 4:22 pm)

Finally some pics. That gives a better "picture" to potential buyers. What is in the box? I think I posted these long time ago, but here we go again, I'm not tracking where all my old posts are:
 
Here is a swing set (2 seater). The store did not think it would fit . I just had to tie the liftgate and drive through back roads.
 

 

 
And here is trip day (4 seater):
 
#300 of 806
Re: '08 Rondo EX 5-seater, CDN [coolmazda5] by conwelpic
Feb 08, 2008 (5:13 pm)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 08, 2008 4:40 pm)

don't see your pictures in this last post, I see mine. The pictures on your early one with the stroller came out fine.
 
The box weighed nearly 200lbs and was 56" long, 33" wide and 25" high, I had quite a bit of room to the back of the front seats when it was in place.
#301 of 806
Re: '08 Rondo EX 5-seater, CDN [conwelpic] by coolmazda5
Feb 08, 2008 (5:33 pm)
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Replying to: conwelpic (Feb 08, 2008 5:13 pm)

I'm afraid to say that mine was bigger than yours, sort to speak (that sounded nasty) although I think less heavy
 
Damn Carspace web site, it is so weird and user unfriendly, I see them OK on my side even if I don't log in. Oh well, that is one of the reasons I don't use it often.
 
What about the links:
 
http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/1.jpg
 
http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/3.jpg
 
http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/4.jpg
#302 of 806
Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5]. Mazda5 Car Seats Links by coolmazda5
Feb 08, 2008 (6:59 pm)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 08, 2008 1:13 pm)

I resist to use any other forum site for pics hosting so to respect this CarSpace forum rules, but here are the links to the car seats if you are still interested, if not, well, just don't click on them .
 
Tested on Firefox and Internet Explorer...
 
http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/mazda5_car_seat_width_1- 7.jpg/photo/v./photo.jpg
 
http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/mazda5_car_seat_width_1- 8.jpg/photo/v./photo.jpg
#303 of 806
Re: '08 Rondo EX 5-seater, CDN [conwelpic] by becp
Feb 08, 2008 (10:59 pm)
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Replying to: conwelpic (Feb 08, 2008 4:22 pm)

Thanks conwelpic and medicineman !!
Im a perdy skinny guy and 5-11 myself ... so that is odd how it fit you .. It was just not doing it for me... Im my previous SUV's the seats were higher so I guess I could be closer to the steering wheel so my elbows were able to rest on the door armrest and console... The ability to move the steering wheel around has always helped me get comfy in a vehicle ... but in the Rondo, when my legs were comfortable with the seat back I also noticed my arms were stretched out ...I played with the seat and drove for about a 1/2 hour adjusting all the time trying to get it right ... I had to reach out to the steering wheel ... believe me I wanted it to be comfortable ... M5 has very limited seat adjustments, not powered ( that feature I loved in my Explorer to adjust all different ways... so Im lucky it works for me or I may still be shopping or settled for the Legacy Touring addition)
 
As for audio .. being in the music industry most of my life... I was trying for a sound I enjoyed ... again it just wasn't doing it for me (I had no CD's with me on any test drives and rely on radio most of the time anyways)
 
I think the real deal breaker for me was that I had to get the 7 seater to get the options I wanted and to fit my monthy budget, it would have forced me to have a substantial pay out after the finacing term available ... but make no mistake, the Rondo was impressive ... the way that the back seats of the Rondo layed out flat was excellent ... the protective backing on the seats .. it was roomy ... I was in luv lol ... seeing your pics with the seats folded down bring a tear to my eye (kidding of course)
 
Bottom line ... the M5 won my over... I am loving it ... up to 600km WEEW HEWWW! lol ... no regrets yet lol
#304 of 806
Re: smooth on the highway [coolmazda5] by medicineman
Feb 08, 2008 (11:33 pm)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 08, 2008 1:05 pm)

Okay, I took some pictures with the strollers and child seats in place. BTW, I didn't bother asking anyone (i.e., the wife) to sit in the car to demonstrate the car's roominess (or lack there of). When I told her what I was doing, she basically mocked me for wasting my time on this--and she's pretty much right. Ahh, she always provides a dose of reality.
 
First thing you'll notice in the pictures is that I only have the base for the baby seat. The baby was sleeping in the seat inside the house when I took these pictures and I don't think the wife would have been happy if I took the seat (with or without baby) just for this photography session.
 
Second thing, I hope everyone appreciates the effort it took to take these pictures, because I lost some blood over this--literally. While I was taking the last couple of pictures, I noticed that there was a reddish smudge on the seat and couldn't quite figure out what the heck it was. Then I noticed that my thumb was bleeding. I had somehow sliced it while moving stuff around in the garage (I guess). On closer examination, I found even more red spots in the vehicle and on the strollers. Needless to say, I wasn't doing the happy dance. So nobody better ask me to take any more pictures because you're just opening up a can of whoop ass!
 
Lastly, the pictures are fuzzy because I used my cellphone camera. Sorry about that.
 
Here's the umbrella stroller behind the third-row seats. Obviously, a larger stroller won't fit back there. Notice underneath the stroller that there's a handle flush with the floor --lift up the lid and you got some storage space below.
 

 
A larger stroller can fit after storing a third-row seat. Notice the third-row armrests on each side--lift up the lid on top of the armrest and you got a little more storage space. (In the first picture, see the red spot on the top-right set of wheels on the larger stroller? That's my DNA.)
 

 

 
Here are the two child seats. The blue thing is the base for the baby seat (it's latched into place although you can't see the anchors). The other seat is an older booster seat that uses the seatbelt to hold it in place. Last summer, I shoehorned my ten-year-old niece between the child seats on a couple of occasions--I don't think I would try that with an adult. (Notice the smudge on the seat cushion between the two child seats? Again, my DNA. Blood, that is. What fluid did you think I was talking about?)
 

 

 
This final picture is just showing the entry way into the third row.
 

 
As you can see, the door opening is wide and the seat slides forward by at least a foot, so it's really no problem getting back there. If there's a child seat in the way in the second row, you'll have to remove it. I usually have only one child seat in the second row (contrary to what the pictures imply, I only have one kid), so you can always enter on the other side without removing the child seat.
 
The one thing that I couldn't demonstrate was two adults plus child seat in the second row. Obviously, I'm not talking about two CFL linebackers here. I'm talking about my and my wife's kin, who all happen to be around 5'5" to 5'9" (so yes, I'm the freakishly tall monstrosity of my family).
#305 of 806
Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by medicineman
Feb 09, 2008 (4:59 am)
Reply

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 08, 2008 1:13 pm)

coolmazda5, sometimes I see your pictures and sometimes I don't. I finally see them now. Actually, I probably could have seen them by clicking the links, but I was too lazy.
 
That baby seat looks ginormous compared to our Graco. I know that you can access the third row without moving any seats by using the narrow middle aisle, but can you actually squeeze past that humongous baby seat to get to the middle aisle? Or do you have to remove the baby seat first, or enter on the other side of the vehicle?
 
About your box being bigger than conwelpic's box (insert joke here)--you do realize that your box doesn't actually fit in your vehicle whereas conwelpic's box does fit in his vehicle, right? I think the giveaway is that your box is protruding out the back of your vehicle.
 
Anyway, time for a couple of more hours of shut eye.
#306 of 806
Re: Snap Judgements [medicineman] by coolmazda5
Feb 09, 2008 (6:20 am)
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Replying to: medicineman (Feb 09, 2008 4:59 am)

Here you go, the pics reduce the amount of reading and clarify things. Thanks for posting them. My comments:
  • Not all kid car seats are created equal. There is infant, toddler and booster (I think). The toddler is the widest of all it seems. My seat is a toddler's one. I had a Graco like the base you have there and yes, with that one I was actually able to lower the armrests of the captain chairs.

  • I only see the base and the booster on your pic. The seat is the one that takes more width, not the base, so I believe the total available width is reduced with the seat installed

  • Yes, we are able to squeeze in a person to the 3rd row through the mid aisle, but seating 5 adults and 1 baby is an exceptional case (once, twice a year?). Usually our cars are configured as a 4 seater. The free 2nd row seat once folded allows to put some extra bags or stuff that needs no movement. The tray under the seat is perfect

  • LOL, of course my box does not fit perfectly, but when it saves you $175 shipping and 2 extra days for delivery by fitting in your car, that to me is the value of the Mazda5 versatility. Also, the eyes and mouth of the guys at the store when I parked my "compact" car in the loading area and we were able to fit the box, was worth a picture as well. It is a full unassembled swingset, I don't do it everyday
  • #307 of 806
    Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by coolmazda5
    Feb 09, 2008 (11:42 am)
    Reply

    Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 09, 2008 6:20 am)

    And to close on the theory of that these 2 cars do not target the exact same audience (in general), I found this pic in the Mazda Sweden web site. I think is the closest to my garage (garage is a little bit tighter). 2nd row doors could open as wide as anything else, but the problem is not just how wide they open, but also the space used by them as that makes it not possible to open it full when in a compact garage or a tight parking spot. The difference between getting your toddler ready inside the garage during Winter and outside (What about Canada?), is big and has no price. I would not doubt that for loading/unloading adults is different.
     
    Link:
    http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/mazda5_parking_slide_do- - - ors_versatility.jpg/photo/v./photo.jpg
     
    Image (right click on it, it is faster than writing 10 paragraphs ):
    #308 of 806
    Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by conwelpic
    Feb 09, 2008 (4:17 pm)
    Reply

    Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 09, 2008 11:42 am)

    your absolutely right, nothing beats pictures for quick explanations and getting to the point.
     
    It's odd but on your last entry, you said right click on the box with the "x" ('cause thats all I was seeing), the picture inserted. Prior to that I had gone back to your other recent entries #291 the pictures were showing, but #296 and #299 were not - just the "x" in the box, but when I right clicked on your last entry #307 the picture inserted as I mentioned, but that those pictures on #296 and #299 also were opened. I had no problem with any of your links. As you mentioned this site is not very user friendly and don't make things very clear, but now we know.
     
    the picture #307 looks okay for the kids getting in the back with the sliding door but how does the driver get in? Must have to get in the back and climb into the front as it doesn't look like the drivers door would open far enough to get in.
     
    Like you, I also picked up the package to save shipping charges to get it home, but I was able to close the rear door. I think the M5 has a slight advantage on the tailgate opening over the Rondo, because it seems to be more square, where the Rondo tapers more as you go to the top. However, the Rondo has more length to the back of the front seats. When I was checking both vehicles out I took my tape measure and came up with these figures:
    height at rear door opening: Rondo - 33", M5 - 35.5"
    floor depth to front seats: Rondo - 68", M5 - 65"
    between wheel wells: Rondo - 40", M5 - 40"
    rear floor to ground: Rondo - 27", M5 - 26.5"
     
    They are both great vehicles, but I'm sure a lot of this information will be of value to anyone out there reading this trying to decide which way to go, we can only provide our own observations for our own personal use that can only be provided by an owner.

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